State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil is now a Republican. She made the dramatic announcement Thursday, saying the Democratic Party left her. "The Democratic Party of today is not the Democratic Party I signed up with," Alvarado-Gil, R-Jackson, told Elex Michaelson on his political show "The Issue Is:." She said Democrats have...
Valley PBS Is Back on the Air. But You’ll Need to Rescan Your TV Channels
More than a month after a devastating wildfire on Bear Mountain destroyed Valley PBS's transmitter and broadcast equipment and caused extensive damage to the tower and transmitters, the station is broadcasting through airwaves again. But you'll need to rescan your televisions to pick up the signal that's now being broadcast...
Judge Kamala Harris on the Merits — Not Which Box She Checks
Opinion by Pamela Paul on August 8, 2024. “Aren’t you thrilled to see a woman running for president? Isn’t it great?” Like many women, I’ve faced variations on this question multiple times since Kamala Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee. I know I’m supposed to say “Yes!” and to possibly...
LeBron James Still Leads the Way for the US at Age 39
PARIS — LeBron James knows there aren't many moments like this left. He's 39. He's entering his 22nd professional season. It's logical to expect that the Paris Olympics will be his last time on this stage, and who knows if he's got one more NBA championship run in him. James...
Baby Gorilla Is Born at Detroit Zoo, the First in Its 96-Year History
ROYAL OAK, Mich. — It's a baby — gorilla. The Detroit Zoo in suburban Detroit said the birth Thursday was the first in its 96-year history. "Bandia had a very smooth pregnancy, which is so important for a first-time mom," said Tami Brightrall, the zoo's associate curator of mammals. The...
A Win for the Harris-Walz Ticket Would Also Mean the Country’s First Native American Female Governor
If Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, are elected this fall, not only would a woman of color lead the country for the first time, but a Native woman would govern a state for the first time in U.S. history too. Peggy Flanagan: A...
Man Charged in 1977 Strangulations of Three Southern California Women After DNA Investigation
VENTURA — A 73-year-old man has been charged in the strangulation deaths of three Southern California women in 1977 after cold case detectives obtained a DNA match, authorities said Thursday, adding they believe there could be more victims. Warren Luther Alexander of Diamondhead, Mississippi, made his first court appearance Thursday...
Meet America’s Newest Giant Pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao
SAN DIEGO — California's governor flew in for the young bears' debut. Throngs of media gathered inside the zoo, while the city of San Diego warned of traffic jams ahead of the much-anticipated event Thursday. The San Diego Zoo rolled out the red carpet for the first public showing of...
Former Fresno Police Chief Balderrama Makes His Next Career Move
Former Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama has formed a consulting company. One day before his official last day with Fresno, Balderrama filed papers with the California Secretary of State to create El Matador Consulting LLC, on July 24. He listed his Tesoro Viejo address in Madera County for the business...
Wall Street Is Clawing Back More Losses to Close Its Wild, Whipsaw Week
NEW YORK — U.S. stocks are holding relatively steady on Friday at the tail end of a wild, whipsaw week for Wall Street. The S&P 500 was up 0.3% in midday trading after drifting between small gains and losses. It's coming off its best day since 2022, and it's close...